Hire Technical Artists

A Technical Artist should have expertise in game engines (Unity, Unreal Engine), shader development (HLSL, ShaderLab, GLSL), and 3D software like Maya, Houdini, or Blender. Strong scripting skills in Python, C#, or MEL are essential for pipeline development. Understanding of real-time rendering constraints, LOD systems, PBR workflows, rigging, and art production pipelines is critical. The best technical artists bridge communication between artists and engineers fluently.

Technical Artist roles are increasingly remote-friendly, though some AAA studios prefer onsite for closer collaboration with art teams and access to specialized hardware. About 50% of Technical Artist positions now offer remote or hybrid options. Smaller studios, indie games, and freelance/contract work tend to be more remote-flexible. For fully remote roles, strong communication skills and self-direction are extra important.

Technical Artists work on: shader development for stylized or realistic rendering, procedural content generation systems, optimization of 3D assets for target platforms, VFX implementation (particles, simulations), rigging and animation pipelines, custom tools for artists (Maya/Blender plugins), look development and lighting systems, and bridging art assets into game engines. Projects span games, film VFX, AR/VR, and real-time visualization.

Primary tools include Unity (C#, ShaderLab) or Unreal Engine (Blueprints, HLSL). For 3D: Maya, Houdini, Blender, or 3ds Max. Scripting in Python and MEL/MaxScript for pipeline tools. Substance Painter/Designer for texturing workflows. Version control via Perforce or Git. Profilers for optimization (RenderDoc, Unity Profiler, Unreal Insights). Photoshop for texture work. Increasingly: AI tools for asset generation.

The best Technical Artists have shipped games or VFX projects you can verify. Look for portfolios showcasing shader breakdowns, tool demos, and before/after optimization comparisons. They often post on ArtStation, have GitHub repos with tools, or write technical blogs. Experience at recognized studios (Riot, Naughty Dog, ILM, Framestore) is a strong signal. Game jams and side projects also demonstrate passion and breadth.

Your technical artist job posting remains on our homepage for 30 days. It's also featured in our weekly newsletter sent to 300+ qualified candidates. After 30 days, your listing moves to our archives but remains accessible via search.

Most technical artist job postings receive their first applications within 48 hours. Jobs included in our next newsletter typically see a spike in applications. On average, postings receive 15-30 applications over 30 days, with higher numbers for remote positions and competitive salary ranges.

We guarantee promotion and visibility for your technical artist position, not hiring outcomes. However, if you receive fewer than 5 qualified applications within 30 days, contact us and we'll work with you to optimize your listing or offer a partial credit for future postings.